Light bulb handling device



Aug. 5, 1941. E. T. PRINGLE LIGHT BULB HANDLING DEVICE Filed Dec. 26, 1940 Z. ZZZ- 1 i Ze IN VEN TOR. y M

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Patented Aug. 5, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,251,855 LIGHT BULB HAND-LING DEVICE Edward T. Pringle, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application December 26, 1940, Serial No. 371,751

5 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for use in handling incandescent electric light bulbs whereby bulbs located at remote points can be removed readily and easily replaced in their sockets by the manipulation of an elongated handle to which the device is connected.

An object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is of simple construction, which can be produced readily by twisting a single length of wire and, when properly twisted will form not only a means for detachably engaging one end of a handle but also a means for gripping the bulb and holding it against accidental displacement.

A still further object is to provide a one-piece device of this character including spring portions which act to press the bulb-gripping jaws yieldingly toward each other.

A still further object is to provide the device with bulb-engaging supports covered with a soft material whereby the bulbs will not be injured while pressure is being exerted thereagainst during the turning operation.

With the foregoing and other objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds,

the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawing the preferred form of the invention has beenshown.

In said drawing Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device, the engaged bulb and a portion of the handle being indicated by broken lines.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Figure 1, the bulb being removed.

Figure 3 is a top plan view.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, l designates a coiled handle-engaging portion. This is formed by bending an elongated wire at its center to form a rounded nose 2 from which extend parallel wire portions 3 which are bent to form the coil. The coil is so proportioned as to be readily screwed onto or otherwise placed in engagement with one end portion of an elongated handle H. That end of the coil remote from the nose or terminal 2 merges into substantially parallel spaced arms 4. The upper ends of the arms 4 merge into oppositely extending fingers 5 which are substantially at right angles to the arms and each of these fingers,

in turn, merges into a split resilient ring 6. The two rings preferably lie in substantially parallel planes with the coil l midway between them. While each finger 5 merges into one terminal of the split ring, the'other terminal of each split ring merges into a short inwardly extended portion or extension I. This is integral with the lower end of a connecting member 1 extending upwardly and merging into a bowed seat portion 8 having a tubular covering of rubber or other soft material indicated at 9. The seat portions 8 are opposed to each other and cooperate to provide a rest for the rounded end of an incandescent light bulb B as indicated in Figure 1. The other end of each seat portion has an arm l0 extending laterally therefrom and merging into one end of the jaw or gripping portion of the device which, as shown, is formed of a portion of the wire bent to V-shape the apex portion ll of which is bent outwardly so that these portions of the two jaws will lie in substantially the same plane. The sides of each jaw diverge downwardly from the v-shaped portion, one of these sides, [2, merging into the arm l0 while the other side, I3, merges into a terminal finger l4 extended across the adjacent connecting portion 1 to constitute a backing therefor whereby the movement of these portions 1' and the jaws away from each other is restrained.

In using the device it is mounted on the handle H which can be of any desired length and material. The lamp bulb to be placed in position is forced between the V-shaped portions ll of the jaws which will be pushed apart thereby and the bulb ultimately will become seated on the cushions 9 where it will be held by the gripping action of the portions H. The threaded end of the bulb is then placed in its socket and, due to the frictional engagement of the cushions 9 with the surface of the bulb, the bulb can be rotated readily by exerting a slight pressure thereagainst in turning the handle H. To remove a bulb the foregoing action is reversed.

Importance is attached to the fact that this article is made out of a single length of resilient wire which can be shaped readily in a wire-bend.- ing machine and produced at low cost. It has been found very efiicient in use and is further advantageous because there is no danger of injury to the engaged bulb while being placed in or removed from position. The distances between the -parts are such that the bulb cannot accidentally fall out of place. It is necessary for a sufiicient relative motion between the bulb and the gripping jaws to be set up to effect an expansion of the device before the bulb can be released.

What is claimed is:

1. A light bulb-handling device formed in a single length of resilient wire bent to provide a handle-engaging coil, opposed spaced bulb-engaging jaws each having an upper V-shaped portion and a lower seat, the v-shaped portions being opposed to each other and the seats being in oppositely disposed position, and connection between the coil and jaws.

2. A light bulb-handling device formed in a single length of resilient wire bent to provide a handle-engaging coil, opposed spaced bulb-engaging jaws each having an upper V-shapedportion and a lower seat, the V-shaped portions being opposed to each other and the seats being in oppositely disposed position, and connections between the coil and jaws, each of said connections including a resilient split ring.

3. A light bulb-handling device formed in a single length of resilient wire bent to provide a handle-engaging coil, opposed spaced bulb-engaging jaws each having an upper V-shaped portion and a lower seat, the V-shaped portions being opposed to each other and the seats being in oppositely disposed position, and connections between the coil and jaws, and a cushioning material on each of the seats.

4. A light bulb-handling device formed in a single length of resilient wire bent to provide a handle-engaging coil, opposed spaced bulb-engaging jaws each having an upper V-shaped portion and a lower seat, the V-shaped portions being opposed to each other and the seats being in oppositely disposed positions, and connections between the coil and jaws, and means on each of the seats for eifecting a friction grip upon an engaged bulb, said means including a wire covering of soft material.

5. A light bulb-handling device formed in a single length of resilient wire bent to provide a handle-engaging coil, opposed spaced bulb-engaging jaws each having an upper V-shaped portion and a lower seat, the V-shaped portions being opposed to each other and the seats being in oppositely disposed positions, and connections between the coil and jaws, each of said'connections including a resilient split ring, and means on each seat for frictionally engaging a bulb between the jaws, said means comprising a tube of soft material.

EDWARD T. PRINGLE. 

